Antioch High's Najee Harris (2) runs for a first down in the second quarter of their North Coast Section playoff football game against San Ramon Valley High in Antioch, Calif., on Friday, Nov. 11, 2016. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

Antioch High's Najee Harris (2) is brought down by Monte Vista High's Zane Cribb (19) after a gain of 24 yards in the second quarter of their North Coast Section Division I championship game in Dublin, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016. (Susan Tripp Pollard/Bay Area News Group)

As Najee Harris stood before Antioch assistant football coach Brett Dudley about four years ago, Dudley couldn’t believe he was meeting a freshman. As the legend goes, the ninth-grader was already 6-foot-2, 185 pounds.

“It was funny because he was so big, I almost didn’t believe he was a freshman,” Dudley recalled.

“I really went and got his whole file from the register’s office the day I met him. … Sure enough, he was in and his age and grade, everything checked out.”

Harris has been making believers ever since. He grew into a 6-foot-3, 225-pound running back who put his Northern California school on the recruiting map with his physical skills and inspiring story.

Reportedly named after a jazz saxophonist, Harris tops this year’s Fab 15 team, the Orange County Register and Southern California News Group’s annual ranking of the best high school football recruits from the western United States heading into National Signing Day (today for print) on Wednesday.

Fans of Alabama can dream of touchdown runs by Harris because he enrolled at the Southeastern Conference powerhouse earlier this month.

Supporters of USC, UCLA, Michigan and Cal are left to ponder what might have been had Harris picked their school.

“He’s probably,” said Greg Biggins, a national recruiting analyst for Scout.com and Fox, “the best running back I’ve seen out of California in the last decade. He’s a freakish talent.”

Biggins said Harris physically resembles Rams running back Todd Gurley, who is 6-1, 227. Biggins saw the East Bay product and the NFL player at The Opening recruiting showcase in Beaverton, Ore., in July.

“They were standing next to each other and Najee is bigger than Gurley,” Biggins said. “And he’s fast and he’s tough and he’s smart. He catches the ball and works hard.”

Harris is the No. 1-ranked prospect in the nation according to Scout.com and Rivals.com. He rushed for a Northern California record 7,948 yards in a four-year varsity career at Antioch.

Harris’ dedication in the classroom that helped him graduate early from Antioch.

More recruits are opting to jump-start their college careers, but Harris accomplished the feat despite reportedly being homeless while growing up.

Harris and his mother, Tianna Hicks, shared with Bleacher Report that he had an abusive father, who struggled with drugs. Football helped Harris cope and later succeed.

“As good as he is as a player, he’s an even better person,” Dudley, the offensive coordinator at Antioch, said of Harris. “For all the attention he got, he never wanted any of it. He’s super humble.”

Harris now resides with the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. He also made official recruiting trips to UCLA, Michigan and his local contender, Cal. But he picked the program known for imposing running backs such as junior-to-be Bo Scarbrough (6-2, 228).

“He will honestly challenge him for the starting job as a true freshman,” Dudley said of Harris. “Najee is much shiftier. … You don’t see tall, big backs like him.”

And if one does, it’s once a decade.

FAB 15 FIRST TEAM

1. Najee Harris, Antioch

RB, 6-3, 225

Harris, the No. 1 overall recruit in the nation by Scout.com and Rivals.com, used his size and strength to rush for 2,776 yards and 34 touchdowns this past season. He ran for 132 yards against powerhouse De La Salle of Concord. Harris’ love of football helped him cope with a difficult childhood that included being homeless.

Status: Alabama (signed)

2. Wyatt Davis, St. John Bosco

OG, 6-4, 310

California fans should know all about Davis, the top-ranked guard in the nation by Scout. He played both guard spots while helping the Braves beat Mater Dei in the CIF Southern Section’s Division 1 final. Some scouts rank Foster Sarell of Washington higher overall but we’ll take Davis.

Status: Ohio State (commit)

3. Jaelan Phillips, Redlands East Valley

DE/OLB, 6-6, 250

La Habra coach Frank Mazzotta called Phillips “scary good.” Phillips not only racked up 21 sacks this past season but used his athleticism to return punts. At his size, that is scary. ESPN ranks him as the top prospect in California.

Status: UCLA (signed)

4. Foster Sarell, Graham-Kapowsin (Wash.)

OT, 6-6, 315

Sarell, the top prospect from Washington, earns high marks for his agility, which traces to his days of playing basketball. Scout.com believes his athleticism makes him a promising candidate at left tackle.

Status: Stanford (commit)

5. Stephen Carr, Summit of Fontana

RB, 6-0, 200

Carr is California’s “other” running back after Najee Harris but don’t overlook him. He compiled almost 3,000 all-purpose yards as a senior, including 2,123 rushing. He combines breakaway speed with toughness between the tackles.

Status: USC commit (soft verbal)

6. Darnay Holmes, Calabasas

CB, 5-11, 185

Holmes is a playmaker who can swing momentum in a flash. The West’s top cornerback possesses lockdown cover skills as well as the toughness to stop the run.

Status: UCLA (signed)

7. Joseph Lewis, Hawkins of Los Angeles

WR, 6-3, 211

The fast-rising Lewis features the best combination of size, speed and power of the wide receivers in the West. Scout and Rivals rank him as the No. 1 wideout in the region.

Status: uncommitted

8. Tate Martell, Bishop Gorman (Nev.)

QB, 5-11, 203

Scout’s top-ranked quarterback in the West is undersized but his talents and leadership are immense. In leading Bishop Gorman to a national title this past season, the dual-threat passed for 2,362 yards and 41 TDs and also rushed for 1,257 and 21 TDs. He was intercepted only once.

Status: Ohio State (signed)

9. Austin Jackson, North Canyon (Ariz.)

OT, 6-5, 290

Jackson is the No. 2 offensive tackle in the West, rivaling Foster Sarell from Washington. And like Sarell, Jackson is a former basketball player with excellent agility. He could emerge as another standout left tackle.

Status: uncommitted

10. Tua Tagovailoa, St. Louis (Hawaii)

QB, 6-1, 216

Tagovailoa is a strong-armed left-handed passer who pushed Tate Martell for the top QB spot in the West. The dual threat was selected Hawaii’s Gatorade player of the year after passing for 2,669 yards and 27 TDs and rushing for 727 yards.

Status: Alabama (committed)

11. Jay Tufele, Bingham (Utah)

DT, 6-3, 297

Scout ranks Tufele as the West’s top defensive tackle, high praise considering the talent on the defensive line. Tufele is quick off the ball and shows excellent pursuit.

Status: uncommitted

12. Bubba Bolden, Bishop Gorman (Nev.)

S, 6-3, 185

Rivals and Scout rank Bolden as the best safety prospect in the West. He collected seven interceptions for the national champion Gaels but also played the run well. He could emerge as a big hitter for the Trojans.

Status: USC (committed)

13. Colby Parkinson, Oaks Christian

TE, 6-6, 225

With excellent size and production, Parkinson secured Scout’s top national ranking for tight ends. He collected 33 receptions for 531 yards this past season and also is a strong blocker.

Status: Stanford (committed)

14. Thomas Graham, Rancho Cucamonga

CB, 5-11, 177

Scouting reports vary slightly on Graham, but ESPN ranks him as the No. 49 overall recruit in the nation. There is no denying his speed and physical style. His 70-yard interception return for a touchdown against Mission Viejo in the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs also looks great on the resume.

Status: Oregon (signed)

15. Tyjon Lindsey, Bishop Gorman (Nev.)

WR, 5-8, 165

The former Centennial of Corona wideout is another under-sized prospect but boasts ultra-quick moves and breakaway speed. A knee injury wiped out most of his senior season but the one-time Ohio State commit projects as an explosive slot receiver.

Dan Albano has been a high school sports writer at The Orange County Register since 1993. He covers football and all the aquatics: boys and girls water polo and boys and girls swimming. Dan's passion for water sports has earned him the nickname, "Aqua Dan" in the newsroom and taken him to multiple U.S. Olympic Swim Trials and many USA water polo events as a reporter. He also writes about high school football recruiting, including The Register's annual FAB 15 teams that list the top high school football players in the Western U.S. before National Signing Day. He compiles the Hot 150 list of football players to watch in Orange County before each season. During football season, he also partners with Steve Fryer and Jonathan Khamis on OCVarsity.com's Gridiron Show and hosts a weekly podcast on Trinity League football. In 2015, Dan received the Bud Dwyer Jr. media award from the Southern California High School Football Coaches Association. Dan is a graduate of Cal State Fullerton, where he worked at The Daily Titan as a news reporter, sports reporter, managing editor and opinion editor.

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.